Poverty rife in inner city

MORE than half the children in central Manchester live in families relying on benefits, according to a national report on poverty published today. The report by children's charity Barnardo's paints a grim picture of life for many of the poorest families in Britain.

MORE than half the children in central Manchester live in families relying on benefits, according to a national report on poverty published today.

The report by children's charity Barnardo's paints a grim picture of life for many of the poorest families in Britain.

And it claims the government is failing in its bid to halve child poverty by 2010.

According to the report, `It Doesn't Happen Here', there are 26 constituencies across the country with 40 per cent or more children living in families relying on state benefits. Three are in Manchester and seven in the north west.

In central Manchester, 54 per cent of youngsters are in families reliant on state benefits. In Blackley it is 45 per cent and Gorton 40 per cent. Barnardo's north west director Sue Hayes says it is important to break the cycle of poverty.

"Most parents we work with want to work and there should be a focus on work as the best route out of poverty," she said.

"But for many with low skills or qualifications, getting a job means moving from workless poverty to working poverty.

"The reality is that low wages combined with the high cost of childcare means parents are sometimes better off when they don't work."

Barnardo's chief executive Martin Nary said: "We should be ashamed that, in 2007, 3.8m children are living in poverty in Britain, the world's fifth richest economy. The government must show its commitment and keep its promise to halve child poverty by 2010."

The charity says spending £3.8bn would be enough to halve child poverty this decade.

This is less than half the £9.3bn predicted cost for hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and less than one per cent of this year's public spending.

The report reveals the government is likely to fall short of the target by 900,000 children.

In a poll commissioned by the charity of 2,230 adults, 55 per cent strongly agreed that if the country could afford to host the Olympics it should be able to afford to halve child poverty.

Barnardo's is calling on the government to increase child tax credit by £11 a week and give an extra £20 a week to families with three or more children.